Safety-closure device

ABSTRACT

The invention contemplates selectively openable closure means that is tamper-proof, in the sense that a correct sequence of two deliberate and independent movements of two parts is necessary in order to achieve access to the contents of the bottle or the like which is protected by the closure. The specific construction that is described involves a bottle with a neck having a circular opening, and a closure cap having a cylindrical wall to overlap and lock to the outer surface of the neck. The closed end of the cap has an axially tapering yieldable section which engages the circular neck opening in the course of closing the bottle. The nature of the lock is such as to preload the yieldable engagement and to utilize the resilient action to retain the lock and to establish a liquid seal of the bottle contents.

Unite States Patent Landen June 6,1972

[54] SAFETY-CLOSURE DEVICE [72] Inventor:

[73] Assignee:

William James Landen, Cheshire, Conn.

Eyelet Specialty Company, Wallingford, Conn.

[22] Filed: Nov. 25, 1970 [21] Appl.N0.: 92,728

[52] US. Cl 215/9, 215/44 [51] Int. Cl. v ..A6lj 1/00 [58] FieldofSearch ..215/9, 44

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,435,975 4/1969 Weigand...215/9 3,510,021 5/1970 Silver ..215/9 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS796,435 6/1958 Great Britain ..215/9 Primary Examiner-George T. HallAttorneySandoe, Hopgood & Caiimafde [57] ABSTRACT The inventioncontemplates selectively openable closure means that is tamper-proof, inthe sense that a correct sequence of two deliberate and independentmovements of two parts is necessary in order to achieve access to thecontents ofthe bottle or the like which is protected by the closure.

The specific construction that is described involves a bottle with aneck having a circular opening, and a closure cup having a cylindricalwall to overlap and lock to the outer surface of the neck. The closedend of the cap has an axially tapering yieldable section which engagesthe circular neck opening in the course of closing the bottle. Thenature of the lock is such as to preload the yieldable engagement and toutilize the resilient action to retain the lock and to establish aliquid seal of the bottle contents.

21 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJUN 6 i912 SHEET 2 OF 2 Mmw$$52fimBY 1 m 1% A ORNEY SAFETY-CLOSURE DEVICE This invention relates totamper-proof selectively openable closure devices, as for closure ofbottles containing liquid or =olid matter that might be injurious whenin unauthorized 'ziands.

With recent growth in the use of drugs, pills, and the like, each withits specific prescribed purpose for a particular member of thehousehold, there has been a corresponding increase in the chances forunauthorized access, particularly access by small children. And it hasbecome increasingly difficult, if not impossible, to supervise childrenenough to assure against their access to materials that can be harmfulto them.

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a tamper-prooffeature in containers for materials of the character indicated.

A specific object is to achieve the above-stated object with aconstruction in which a correct sequence of independent motions of twoparts is a pre-requisite for access to the contents of the container.

Another object is to achieve the foregoing objects with a simpleconstruction, involving the addition of no parts, beyond the containerand its closure.

A further object is to provide a closure meeting the above objects andestablishing a liquid seal.

A specific object is to provide a bottle and cap with integral iockingand sealing formations which inherently achieve all the foregoingobjects.

Another specific object is to achieve the stated objects using=-esilient deformable action of one of the parts to establish both aresiliently pre-loaded seal and resiliently pre-loaded lock retention.

It is also a specific object to provide a closure of the characterindicated, wherein sealed closure is established by essentially onlyaxially driving the cap onto the neck, and yet wherein a specificcombination of further axial drive and correct rotation are needed inorder to release the closure.

Other objects and various further features of novelty and invention willbe pointed out or will occur to those skilled in the art from a readingof the following specification in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings. In said drawings, which show, for illustrative purposes only,preferred forms of the invention:

FIG. 1 is an exploded fragmentary view in perspective showing the neckregion of a bottle, above which closure-cap means of the invention ispoised for application;

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the cap means of FIG. I;

FIG. 3 is an end view of the cap means of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary view in elevation of the neck region of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a top view of the neck region of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 6 to 9, inclusive, are simplified views to illustrate a series ofparts relationships in the course of operating the closure means of FIG.1; and

FIG. 10 is a view similar to those of FIGS. 6 to 9, to illustrate amodification.

Referring to the drawings, the invention is shown in application to abottle 10 and to a selectively removable closure cap 1 1 therefor. Thebottle 10 may be of any suitable material but is conveniently of glass,being integrally formed with a reduced neck 12 having a circularaxial-end opening to be selectively opened and closed by the cap 11. Thebottle 10 is shown to be further integral with locking formations 13-13which project radially outwardly at angularly spaced locations on theneck 12.

The cap 1 1 is of deformable material such as a plastic havinggoodmemory, good flexural properties, a low coefficient of friction andrelative inertness to most household chemicals; such materials includepolypropylene and polyethylene, each of which lends itself toinjection-molding of the cap 1 1.

The cap 11 is generally cup-shaped, comprising an outer cylindrical wallportion 14 which is relatively thick (and therefore relatively rigid)and which telescopically overlaps the neck 12. The portion 14 includesangularly spaced integral inwardly projecting lugs 15, for lockingengagement with the neck formations 13-13. The closed end of the cap ispreferably relatively thin, to permit local deformation at a convergingtaper zone 16, as will be explained in detail.

In the form shown, the converging taper 16 is generally frusto-conical,having limiting radii R,-R, (FIG. 2) which straddle the radii R -R.(FIG. 4) of the chamfered circular opening of the bore 17 of neck 12.Taper 16 is integral with a short cylindrical portion 18 which isintegrally connected to outer wall 14 by a short annulus l9, dishedslightly inwardly; and the inner end of taper 16 is integrally closed bya flat circular panel 20. In FIG. 2, or marks the angle of taper l6, andB marks the flare or dished angle of the annulus 19.

In locked condition, the cap lugs 15 engage the recesses or undersides21-21 of the formations 13-13, and in this condition the taper 16 hasengaged the chamfered end of the neck bore 17, and is radially inwardlydeformed thereby. Since cap 11 is of low-friction material, thecompliant reaction to such deformation produces an axially separatingforce between neck 12 and cap 1 1, and this force resiliently loads andretains the engagements at 15-21 and 15-21'. The same resilient actionradially outwardly loads the taper 16 in its contact with bore 17, thusestablishing a liquid-retaining seal of the contents of the bottle 10.

In accordance with the invention, the lug formations l5 and theprojecting neck formations 13-13 engageable therewith are such that alocked and sealed closure results from essentially only an axiallydepressed application of cap 11 to the bottle neck 12, and yet that acombination of further axial depression, coupled with a particularrotational torque, are necessary to achieve an unlocking access to thecontents of the bottle. To achieve this result, the locking fonnations13 may be repeated at each and every angular location of lug formations15, but as shown (see FIG. 5) the neck formations 13 occur at twodiametrically spaced locations; the formations 13' are of more simplenature, being relied upon only for their flat retaining undersurfaces 21and being at opposed angular locations between the locking formations13. The lug formations 15 are shown as eight like, equally spacedblades, extending radially inwardly and being axially elongate for thedistance x from the open end of the cap 1 1. Due to the proportions andmaterial of the lug formations 15, being molded integrally with cap 11,each lug formation 15 is inherently characterized by a degree ofrelatively stiff toisionally flexible action, about its axially centralradial axis; the stifi torsional compliance of this action is reliedupon to achieve a snap-action lock and seal of the bottle, uponessentially only axially depressed placement of the cap 1 1.

Each of the formations 13-13 projects radially outwardly from theotherwise cylindrical outer surface 22 of the neck 12. This cylindricalsurface 22 extends from a base flange 23 to the open end of neck 12 andoverlaps the axial span of the formations 13-13. The formations 13 areof effective angular extent 8 (FIG. 5) which preferably exceeds theeffective angular spacing between adjacent lugs 15 (FIG. 3), thusfrustrating any axial assembly of the cap 11 to the neck 12 withoutfirst achieving a substantially correct alignment, as will be explained.As shown, for the two locking fonnations 13 and two auxiliary retainingformations 13', the lu 15 are provided in a plurality of eight. Thus,for any locked setting of the cap, only four lugs 15 are used forretention; however, the radially inner limits of lugs 15 preferably justclear the diameter of the neck surface 22, so that all lugs 15 provide astabilizing action for coaxially piloting cap 12 to the neck 11. Lugs 15also abut flange 23, to prevent excessive depression of cap 12 in thecourse of establishing a locked seal.

The locking formation 13 comprises a lobe or radial projection integralwith the neck 12 and having a pocket which is a cul-de-sac, beneath theretaining surface 21. The pocket is open axially upward and radiallyoutward, to receive axial insertion of a suitably positioned one of theplural lug formations 15. Basically, the pocket is defined by two spacedsidewalls 24-25; these walls are shown flaring outwardly from the throat26 of the upwardly open inlet passage, thus tending to funnel orangularly align the cap for lug entry at the throat 26; the angular gapat throat 26 is preferably slightly in excess of the effective thicknessof each lug l5. Beneath the nroat, wall 24 is sharply undercut, withangular and axial offset, to define the retaining surface 21, and adepending flat axial portion 27 completes the description of wall 24.Beneath .he throat, the other wall 25 is sloped generally helically inthe angular direction toward wall 24, and the pocket or cul-de-sac isclosed by a relatively sharp intersection with the axial wall ortion 27;the numeral 28 identifies this generally helical portion. As shown, thegenerally helical portion 28 is smoothly and tangentially faired to thethroat portion of wall 25, and the advance of the helix is reduced inapproach to wall portion 27, so that at their intersection the wallportions 27-28 are substantially perpendicular.

In the design of particular lug and cul-de-sac proportions, theeffective axial length x (FIG. 2) of the lugs 15 should be less than themaximum axial span I. of the cul-de-sac (FIG. 4), and the length xshould exceed the minimum axial span L thereof. Also, preferably, theupper edge 29 (FIG. 2) of each lug 15 should be sloped in accordancewith that of the undercut 21; in FIG. 4, this angle or take isidentified by the symbol A and is shown as substantially 15", back froma plane radially of the closure axis. Finally, the efiective angularoffset or width W of the undercut 21 should be such that, with a lug 1Stwisted to bottom at the intersection of wall portions 27-28, theeffective lug length x is just short of interference with the projectinglip or throat end of the undercut 21.

Based on relationships and properties as described, it will be helpfulto consider a cycle of operation, in reference to the sequence ofsimplified diagrams of FIGS. 6 to 9.

FIG. 6 displays a parts relationship for a point in time when one of thelugs 15 has been caused to enter the throat 26 and in which reactinginterference [(a) of the lug buttom with wall portion 28, and (b) of thelug side wall with wall 24 at the throat] have developed a lug-twistingtorque. Further cap depression produces further twisting of lug 15 as itenters further into the cul-de-sac (FIG. 7). Final cap depression islimited by bottom contact at intersection of surfaces 27-28, by whichtime the lug 15 has cleared the projecting or throat edge of undercut21, whereupon lug 15 resiliently restores itself to its original axialorientation, parallel to or flat alongside of the axial wall portion 27.

In the course of the axial depression which resulted in this latching orlooking engagement, an initial interference developed between the neckchamfer and the conical formation 16; this interference entailed aresilient inward deformation of the cone 16 to the extent that residualaxial force is exerted to axially outwardly propel the cap 1 1, were itnot for lug l retention by the undercut 2 1. Preferably, the point ofinitial neck-to-cone inference occurs axially outwardly of the lockedrelationship (FIG. 8) so that the undercut 21 retains the assembly, witha residium of axially outward resilient loading.

Now, if one tries to remove the cap by purely axial action, or by purelyangular (e.g., the normal unthreading") actuation, there will be nothingbut frustration, because the lug 15 will jam itself between the limitsof the restriction L (FIG. 4). On the other hand, if the cap 1 1 isfurther displaced against its axial resilient load (to bottom atintersection of 21-28), and if the cap 11 and bottle are then twisted inthe unthreading direction, lug will be caused to twist again about itscentral radial axis and to conform to the generally helical sidewallportion 28 (FIG. 9); the cap is then removed by axial displacement whilemaintaining the unthreading" torque.

FIG. 10 illustrates a modification wherein the generally helicalsidewall 24' is strictly helical, all the way from a point axiallyoutside the throat 26, to the bottom 30, immediately adjacent the axialwall portion 27; bottom 30 is at a right angle to wall portion 27 and issubstantially the effective width of lug 15. The cul-de-sac formation isotherwise as already described. The uniform helix of FIG. 10 providesuniform sliding action for the twisted lug, during locking and unlockingfunctions, as will be clear. And the intersection between wall 24 andbottom 30 provides a discrete "corner" by which the corresponding bottomcorner of lug 15 may be fulcrumed, in developing the twist needed forcap removal.

It will be seen that the invention meets all the stated objects. The twoparts are readily fabricated with existing molding techniques, andliquid seal at a locked closure is repeatedly established, for eachaccess to the container contents. The provision of lugs 13' establishesretaining surfaces for those lugs 15 which are spaced at a right anglefrom the lugs 15 relied upon for lock action, thereby stabilizing caporientation when locked and sealed. Moreover, such lugs 13 are readilyadapted to standard molding techniques, as suggested by identificationof a parting line 31 (FIG. 5) between mold halves for the bottle it Inan illustrative use of my invention with materials of the character setforth above, the bottle neck surface 22 is of 1- inch diameter. Theprojecting throat end or lip of the undercut 21 is 0.3 inch axially infrom the open end of the bottle. The lugs 15 are about 0.23-inch inaxial length, 0.055-inch in thickness, and have about a l-mil clearancewith the surface 22; the formations 13-13 have a similar close clearancewith the bore of cap 11, between lugs 15. The outside diameter of flange23 is preferably slightly exceeded by the maximum outside diameter ofcap 11, for appearances sake. And the bottom surface of flat 20 hasabout ODS-inch clearance with the radial plane of the upper ends of lugs15.

While the invention has been described in detail for the preferred formsshown, it will be understood that modifications may be made withoutdeparture from the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. Tamper-proof selectively operable closure means, comprising a bodyincluding a neck with a circular axial-end opening, and a cap forselectively opening and closing said opening, said cap and the exteriorof said neck having coacting telescoping parts for removably securingthe same, and said cap and the bore of said neck having coactingtelescoping parts including axially yieldable means havingcircumferentially continuous resiliently loaded contact with saidopening when said cap is in secured position, said securing meansincluding removably engageable bayonet lug and bayonet cul-de-sacformations; said cul-de-sac formation being characterized by a pockethaving a restricted entrance which is axially open in one direction andradially open in one direction, said formation being furthercharacterized by opposed angularly spaced sidewalls which are convergedto a throat at said entrance, one of said sidewalls within said pocketbeing generally helically sloped from said throat and in the directionacross said entrance, the other of said sidewalls within said pocketbeing angularly undercut in the direction away from said wall at theregion of said helical slope; said lug formation extending radially andaxially and being torsionally flexible about a generally radial axisthrough said lug formation, said lug formation being of thickness topass said entrance, and the axial extent of said lug fonnation being atleast no greater than the minimum axial span of said undercut portion ofsaid other sidewall.

2. Closure means according to claim 1 in which said lug formationsextend radially inwardly of said cap.

3. Closure means according to claim 1 in which said lug formations areintegrally formed with the material of said cap.

4. Closure means according to claim 3, in which said cap and lugformations are a single molded piece of plastic material.

5. Closure means according to claim 1, in which said cul-desacformations are integrally formed with the material of said neck.

6. Closure means according to claim 5, in which said body and neck andcul-de-sac formations are a single molded piece of glam.

7. Closure means according to claim 1, in which said sidewalls at theaxially open end of said entrance converge in the direction of approachto said throat 8, Closure means according to claim 1, in which said lugformations are provided in plurality, equally angularly spaced about thecentral axis of said cap, and wherein said cul-de-sac formation is arecess within a radially outwardly extending arcuate lobe on said neck,the effective arcuate extent of said lobe exceeding the angular spacebetween adjacent lug formations, whereby telescoping overlap of said capand neck can only proceed when a lug formation enters said cul-de-sacformation.

9. Closure means according to claim 8, in which said lobe is provided inplurality about said neck at such effective angular spacing betweenadjacent entrance throats as to be an integer multiple of the angularspacing between adjacent lug formations.

10. Closure means according to claim 9, in which the plurality of saidlobes is two, in which the number of lug formations is an even number,and in which said lobes are diametrically opposed.

ll. Closure means according to claim 8, in which a radial lug integralwith said neck and having a cap-lug retention surface substantially inthe radial plane of said undercut is angularly offset from saidundercut, substantially to the extent of an integer multiple of theangular spacing between adjacent lug formations ofsaid cap.

12. Closure means according to claim 9, in which two diametricallyopposed radial lugs project integrally from said neck at locationsintermediate said lobes, said last two lugs having caplug retentionsurfaces substantially in the radial plane of said undercuts and beingon a diametrical alignment that is angularly offset from the diametricalalignment of said undercuts, substantially to the extent of an integermultiple of the angular spacing between adjacent lug formations of saidcap.

13. Closure means according to claim 12, in which the number of cap-lugformations is eight and in which the alignment of said neck-lugformations is substantially perpendicular to the alignment ofsaidundercuts.

l4. Closure means according to claim 1, in which the effective angularextent of said undercut is at least as great as the thickness of saidlug formation.

15. Closure means according to claim 1, in which said one sidewall issubstantially axially oriented at said throat and is smoothly andcontinuously faired to said generally helically sloped portion of saidone sidewall.

16. Closure means according to claim 1, in which said cap is ofsingle-piece molded-plastic construction, the securing telescopingportion of said cap including a relatively thick and rigid annulus withwhich said lug formations are integral, the yieldable telescopingportion of said cap being relatively thin and flexible and being ofinwardly tapering configuration at the region of contact with saidopening.

17. Closure means according to claim 16, in which said lug formationsare in a general radial-plane location that is axially displaced fromthe general axial region of the yieldable telescoping portion of saidcap.

18. Closure means according to claim 1, in which said one sidewall is asubstantially continuous helix for substantially its length, spanningsaid throat and pocket regions.

19. Closure means according to claim 1, in which said undercut includesaxial and angular components of offset from the throat region of saidother sidewall.

20. Closure means according to claim 1, in which within said pocket saidother sidewall includes a substantial axially extending wall portion oflength greater than the effective axial length of said lug formation.

2]. Closure means according to claim 1, in which said cap has a closurewall which includes a radially yieldable tapering section having initialinterference with the circular neck opening prior to achieving theultimate axial overlap which represents full securing of the cap to theneck, whereby when fully secured the tapering section is resilientlystressed into closing and sealing contact with said neck.

1. Tamper-proof selectively operable closure means, comprising a bodyincluding a neck with a circular axial-end opening, and a cap forselectively opening and closing said opening, said cap and the exteriorof said neck having coacting telescoping parts for removably securingthe same, and said cap and the bore of said neck having coactingtelescoping parts including axially yieldable means havingcircumferentially continuous resiliently loaded contact with saidopening when said cap is in secured position, said securing meansincluding removably engageable bayonet lug and bayonet cul-de-sacformations; said cul-de-sac formation being characterized by a pockethaving a restricted entrance which is axially open in one direction andradially open in one direction, said formation being furthercharacterized by opposed angularly spaced sidewalls which are convergedto a throat at said entrance, one of said sidewalls within said pocketbeing generally helically sloped from said throat and in the directionacross said entrance, the other of said sidewalls within said pocketbeing angularly undercut in the direction away from said wall at theregion of said helical slope; said lug formation extending radially andaxially and being torsionally flexible about a generally radial axisthrough said lug formation, said lug formation being of thickness topass said entrance, and the axial extent of said lug formation being atleast no greater than the minimum axial span of said undercut portion ofsaid other sidewall.
 2. Closure means according to claim 1, in whichsaid lug formations extend radially inwardly of said cap.
 3. Closuremeans according to claim 1, in which said lug formations are integrallyformed with the material of said cap.
 4. Closure means according toclaim 3, in which said cap and lug formations are a single molded pieceof plastic material.
 5. Closure means according to claim 1, in whichsaid cul-de-sac formations are integrally formed with the material ofsaid neck.
 6. Closure means according to claim 5, in which said body andneck and cul-de-sac formations are a single molded piece of glass. 7.Closure means according to claim 1, in which said sidewalls at theaxially open end of said entrance converge in the direction of approachto said throat.
 8. Closure means according to claim 1, in which said lugformations are provided in plurality, equally angularly spaced about thecentral axis of said cap, and wherein said cul-de-sac formation is arecess within a radially outwardly extending arcuate lobe on said neck,the effective arcuate extent of said lobe exceeding the angular spacebetween adjacent lug formations, whereby telescoping overlap of said capand neck can only proceed when a lug formation enters said cul-de-sacformation.
 9. Closure means according to claim 8, in which said lobe isprovided in plurality about said neck at such effective angular spacingbetween adjacent entrance throats as to be an integer multiple of theangular spacing between adjacent lug formations.
 10. Closure meansaccording to claim 9, in which the plurality of said lobes is two, inwhich the number of lug formations is an even number, and in which saidlobes are diametrically opposed.
 11. Closure means according to claim 8,in which a radial lug integral with said neck and having a cap-lugretention surface substantially in the radial plane of said undercut isangularly offset from said undercut, substantially to the extent of aninteger multiple of the angular spacing between adjacent lug formationsof said cap.
 12. Closure means according to claim 9, in which twodiametrically opposed radial lugs project integrally from said neck atlocations intermediate said lobes, said last two lugs having cap-lugretention surfaces substantially in the radial plane of said Undercutsand being on a diametrical alignment that is angularly offset from thediametrical alignment of said undercuts, substantially to the extent ofan integer multiple of the angular spacing between adjacent lugformations of said cap.
 13. Closure means according to claim 12, inwhich the number of cap-lug formations is eight and in which thealignment of said neck-lug formations is substantially perpendicular tothe alignment of said undercuts.
 14. Closure means according to claim 1,in which the effective angular extent of said undercut is at least asgreat as the thickness of said lug formation.
 15. Closure meansaccording to claim 1, in which said one sidewall is substantiallyaxially oriented at said throat and is smoothly and continuously fairedto said generally helically sloped portion of said one sidewall. 16.Closure means according to claim 1, in which said cap is of single-piecemolded-plastic construction, the securing telescoping portion of saidcap including a relatively thick and rigid annulus with which said lugformations are integral, the yieldable telescoping portion of said capbeing relatively thin and flexible and being of inwardly taperingconfiguration at the region of contact with said opening.
 17. Closuremeans according to claim 16, in which said lug formations are in ageneral radial-plane location that is axially displaced from the generalaxial region of the yieldable telescoping portion of said cap. 18.Closure means according to claim 1, in which said one sidewall is asubstantially continuous helix for substantially its length, spanningsaid throat and pocket regions.
 19. Closure means according to claim 1,in which said undercut includes axial and angular components of offsetfrom the throat region of said other sidewall.
 20. Closure meansaccording to claim 1, in which within said pocket said other sidewallincludes a substantial axially extending wall portion of length greaterthan the effective axial length of said lug formation.
 21. Closure meansaccording to claim 1, in which said cap has a closure wall whichincludes a radially yieldable tapering section having initialinterference with the circular neck opening prior to achieving theultimate axial overlap which represents full securing of the cap to theneck, whereby when fully secured the tapering section is resilientlystressed into closing and sealing contact with said neck.